Cristiano Ronaldo's staff working conditions speak volumes as net worth soars to £1billion

New billionaire Cristiano Ronaldo has grown his staggering wealth while offering generous perks to his staff. The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend has become football’s first billionaire player.

The 40-year-old’s net worth has been estimated at £1.04billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the world’s richest people. Ronaldo’s valuation takes into account career earnings, investments and endorsements, with Bloomberg estimating his salary income between 2002 and 2023 was more than £410million.

His move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in 2022 saw him sign for a reported annual salary of £177m and he has since signed a new deal which will keep him at the club until 2027. He also has a £13.4m a year sponsorship deal with Nike.

Away from football, Ronaldo has numerous business interests, including a chain of hotels. He entered the hospitality sector 10 years ago when he teamed up with the Pestana Hotel Group and fellow Madeiran Dionisio Pestana, reportedly investing around £30million in the project.

He now owns hotels in Madrid, Funchal, Lisbon, Marrakech and New York under his CR7 brand. A recruitment drive by the Madrid site last year gave an insight into what staff can expect.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes football's first BILLIONAIRE after signing new Saudi contract

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo reveals he'd QUIT current club Al-Nassr on one condition

The hotel was seeking waiters, supervisors, receptionists, bar assistants and junior waiters, with all candidates needing to have a high level of English and a vocational qualification. The job advert outlined a host of desirable benefits to staff, including a permanent contract with restaurant tickets and a discounted rate for visits to any of the group’s other locations.

Fifty days of holiday a year, a birthday bonus and a 25% discount in all hotel bars and restaurants were included in salaries that reach just above £25,000. Employees would also be offered complimentary health insurance.

In 2015, Ronaldo told CNBC it was his “dream” to own a hotel. He said: “I’m 100 per cent sure that this is going to be different from others because of my name, the way I live, my ambitions, Dionisio's ambition too.

“I think we have all the ingredients to do it. My ambition is kind of like in football, to be better and better. As you know, football is not for your whole life. I want other things.”

However, despite entering his fifth decade, Ronaldo is far from finished as a footballer, despite pleas from his family to hang up his boots. Speaking at the Portugal Football Globes gala after signing his new deal, he said: “I still have a passion for this.

“My family says it’s time to quit, and they ask me why I want to score 1,000 goals if I’ve already scored 900-something. But I don’t think that way inside. I’m still producing good things. I’m helping my club and the national team. Why not continue?

“I am sure that when I finish, I will leave full because I gave everything of myself. I know I don’t have many years left to play, but the few I have left, I have to enjoy them to the fullest.”

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